Quarterback (QB)
Kirk Cousins
Cousins has had a slow start to his fantasy season. Week 1 Kirk only needed to throw 10 times, and while he looked efficient, that’s not gonna do it in fantasy. A shaky week 2 in Lambeau may have some owners wary of playing him, but Oakland is too good of a matchup to not consider giving him a start. Jonathan Abrams is out with a shoulder injury for the Raiders, and their secondary just got shredded at home by the Chiefs. A bounce back week is coming for Cousins and the Vikings, so if you don’t have a clear starter at QB, give him a shot week 3.
Jimmy Garappolo
The Steelers have now had two games in a row where they’ve given up three touchdowns to their opposition’s passing game. The 49ers are 2-0, and Gararppolo has looked good his first two games. Free Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is on his way to the Steelers via trade, but he should have a minimal impact in his first game as he learns the Steelers’ playbook. Expect two or more touchdowns for Jimmy G when the Niners rely on their passing game in the red zone.
Philip Rivers
Houston has done well against the run, but their pass defense and pass rush have been subpar. This is a good recipe for 30 or more passing attempts by Rivers, who is a veteran quarterback. The Texans did well against Jacksonville’s predictable offense last week, but suffered against the Saints, who attacked the defenses in a variety of ways. The Chargers should be scoring a lot in a shootout this weekend, and Philip Rivers should be a starting fantasy quarterback.
Running Back (RB)
Devonta Freeman
Freeman has had a rough start to the season, but could turn it around week 3. There are still valid concerns here with Freeman, backup Ito Smith has been involved in the offense a little too much for comfort, and Freeman hasn’t shown up against tougher competition. However, the Falcons play the Colts this week, who have allowed several running back touchdowns this year already. I expect Freeman to find the end zone this week, and at least be a worthy Flex play.
Matt Breida
Breida hasn’t been the workhorse back in the Niners backfield, despite injuries to several RBs above him on the depth chart. Be that as it may, the Shanahan system is a great one for running back production, and Breida had 121 yards on the ground against the Bengals. This week, Breida plays the Steelers, who have a better front seven on defense than Cincy, but Breida could still find the end zone and make his owners happy. Start him this week.
Malcolm Brown
Brown is a risky play with Todd Gurley starting for the Rams at running back. However, Los Angeles faces off with the Cleveland Browns this week. The Browns beat the Jets handily last week, but even a terrible team like New York exposed Cleveland’s flaws. The Browns have a tough time stopping the run, and Baker Mayfield still seems prone to turning the ball over this year. If the Rams take an early lead, the game script of this matchup will be perfect for Brown, who could get more 4th quarter touches as the Rams look to preserve Todd Gurley. In deep leagues or on a fantasy team with a thin running back corps, I’d give Brown a chance.
Frank Gore
Three factors add up this week for a Gore fantasy feast. First, the Bills play the Bengals, who have looked terrible against the run. Second, the Bills love running the ball, and center their offense around it. Third, backup Devin Singletary (who has looked great thus far) pulled his hamstring last week, and his touches will go down as a result. Start Gore as a RB2 or flex, and watch him have his best week of this season.
Wide Receiver (WR)
Mike Evans
Evans has looked like the second fiddle to fellow receiver Chris Godwin the first two weeks of the season, but make no mistake- Mike is one of the best wideouts in the NFL. He’ll be highly motivated to show his skills in a battle with the Giants this week, whose secondary is awful. This is also an important week for Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, so expect him to look for his favorite target on multiple occasions this Sunday. Mike Evans is still a must start.
DJ Moore
At first glance, Cam Newton’s injury looks to hurt the stellar production Moore has shown us up to this point. But, after the news that Cam will likely not play this week, I am actually encouraged to play D.J. this week. Playing with a healthy backup will be better than playing with an injured Cam. Newton looked terrible against the Bucs, but Moore still put up 9 receptions for 89 yards. If Kyle Allen is the starter this week, Moore has already played two games with him at QB. The greatest receivers will have good numbers regardless of quarterback, and Moore has a chance to prove he is elite. He’ll have a good week against Arizona.
Allen Robinson
Mitch Trubisky has not started the season off with a bang, but one theme has become apparent after the Bear’s rough start: Allen Robinson is Trubisky’s go to target. Robinson looked rusty at times last year, but it should be noted he was coming off an ACL tear, and was learning Nagy’s offensive playbook. Now, he is fully healthy and ready to have a great year. Against Washington, he should have his best game of the new season.
Marvin Jones
Jones owners are likely feeling anxious about his long term value this year, but they shouldn’t fret; Jones is still a talented receiver. Philadelphia has already allowed five wide receiver touchdowns this year, including two against a bad Washington Redskins team. Jones will find the endzone this weekend, and should be a solid flex play for fantasy teams.
Tight End (TE)
Jared Cook
Drew Brees’ injury hurts the Saints offense as a whole, but it might open up Jared Cook for more targets. Oftentimes, a quarterback without much experience will look to his tight end a lot, and Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill are both young QB replacements that will split time this week against Seattle. It should also be noted that the Seahawks just allowed a young backup QB, Mason Rudolph, to throw two touchdowns to his tight end last week. If you are thin at the tight end position and have a chance to play Cook, go ahead and do it this week.
Greg Olsen
The Panthers are in a very similar situation as the Saints. Cam Newton is out with a foot injury at the moment, which means they’ll start backup Kyle Allen. Olsen looked sharp against the Buccaneers last week, and should get a lot of targets again. Carolina plays the Cardinals this week, who have been abysmal against the pass, especially against opposing tight ends. Arizona has allowed three tight end touchdowns in two weeks. Olsen is a must start this week on fantasy teams without an established star at tight end.
Defense/ Special Teams (D/ST)
Jaguars Defense/ Titans Defense
I place both of these teams together on the list because they’re in similar situations. They both play teams that have average or below average quarterbacks. They both have solid run defenders that should shut out the other team’s run heavy offense. Lastly, the game is on Thursday night, meaning both team’s offensive coordinators have had little time to prepare any schemes that would take advantage of a defensive weakness. If you have one of these defenses start them and expect a positive contribution to your fantasy team’s points.
Cowboys Defense
I’m going to make this one brief. The Cowboys defense is good. The Miami Dolphins look like they could lose to a college team this year. If there is ever a chance to play a defense against this year’s Dolphins, take it. You’ll be happy you did.
Tampa Bay Defense
It’s a small sample size, but the Buccaneers has been surprisingly good on defense this year. This week they play the Giants, an already awful team that is starting it’s rookie quarterback (Daniel Jones) for the first time. Take a chance on Tampa, and reap the benefits.
Fantasy Football Beginner Tip of the Week
(Sometimes it’s hard being a beginner in Fantasy Football. Each week I’ll try to leave a helpful tip that could help you during your fantasy season.)
The Defense/ Special Teams (D/ST) slot will not usually give your team the most points on your roster, but sometimes it can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Even the best defenses have bad games, so it is imperative to look at the defense’s opposing team each week. Here are some things to look for on the opposing team that can lead to a good week by your D/ST:
-Do they have a star player that is out with an injury? Is their backup good?
-They are starting a rookie at QB
-They have a bad offensive line, or a lot of recent injuries to their starting offensive lineman.
-Injuries or any other factor that make one position group very weak (WR, TE, RB, etc.)
-The team has had several big losses in a row
-The team has a QB who turns the ball over a lot (interceptions or fumbles)
Here are some things to look for on the opposing team that may lead to a tougher matchup than what you thought:
-An offense that scores a lot of points
-The team has won several games in a row
-The team is known for consistently beating your D/ST team
-A star player is returning from injury or another factor that kept them out for a while
-Your D/ST struggles at run defense, and the opponent is good at running the ball
-Your D/St struggles at pass defense, and the opponent is good at passing the ball
Kirk Cousins
Cousins has had a slow start to his fantasy season. Week 1 Kirk only needed to throw 10 times, and while he looked efficient, that’s not gonna do it in fantasy. A shaky week 2 in Lambeau may have some owners wary of playing him, but Oakland is too good of a matchup to not consider giving him a start. Jonathan Abrams is out with a shoulder injury for the Raiders, and their secondary just got shredded at home by the Chiefs. A bounce back week is coming for Cousins and the Vikings, so if you don’t have a clear starter at QB, give him a shot week 3.
Jimmy Garappolo
The Steelers have now had two games in a row where they’ve given up three touchdowns to their opposition’s passing game. The 49ers are 2-0, and Gararppolo has looked good his first two games. Free Safety Minkah Fitzpatrick is on his way to the Steelers via trade, but he should have a minimal impact in his first game as he learns the Steelers’ playbook. Expect two or more touchdowns for Jimmy G when the Niners rely on their passing game in the red zone.
Philip Rivers
Houston has done well against the run, but their pass defense and pass rush have been subpar. This is a good recipe for 30 or more passing attempts by Rivers, who is a veteran quarterback. The Texans did well against Jacksonville’s predictable offense last week, but suffered against the Saints, who attacked the defenses in a variety of ways. The Chargers should be scoring a lot in a shootout this weekend, and Philip Rivers should be a starting fantasy quarterback.
Running Back (RB)
Devonta Freeman
Freeman has had a rough start to the season, but could turn it around week 3. There are still valid concerns here with Freeman, backup Ito Smith has been involved in the offense a little too much for comfort, and Freeman hasn’t shown up against tougher competition. However, the Falcons play the Colts this week, who have allowed several running back touchdowns this year already. I expect Freeman to find the end zone this week, and at least be a worthy Flex play.
Matt Breida
Breida hasn’t been the workhorse back in the Niners backfield, despite injuries to several RBs above him on the depth chart. Be that as it may, the Shanahan system is a great one for running back production, and Breida had 121 yards on the ground against the Bengals. This week, Breida plays the Steelers, who have a better front seven on defense than Cincy, but Breida could still find the end zone and make his owners happy. Start him this week.
Malcolm Brown
Brown is a risky play with Todd Gurley starting for the Rams at running back. However, Los Angeles faces off with the Cleveland Browns this week. The Browns beat the Jets handily last week, but even a terrible team like New York exposed Cleveland’s flaws. The Browns have a tough time stopping the run, and Baker Mayfield still seems prone to turning the ball over this year. If the Rams take an early lead, the game script of this matchup will be perfect for Brown, who could get more 4th quarter touches as the Rams look to preserve Todd Gurley. In deep leagues or on a fantasy team with a thin running back corps, I’d give Brown a chance.
Frank Gore
Three factors add up this week for a Gore fantasy feast. First, the Bills play the Bengals, who have looked terrible against the run. Second, the Bills love running the ball, and center their offense around it. Third, backup Devin Singletary (who has looked great thus far) pulled his hamstring last week, and his touches will go down as a result. Start Gore as a RB2 or flex, and watch him have his best week of this season.
Wide Receiver (WR)
Mike Evans
Evans has looked like the second fiddle to fellow receiver Chris Godwin the first two weeks of the season, but make no mistake- Mike is one of the best wideouts in the NFL. He’ll be highly motivated to show his skills in a battle with the Giants this week, whose secondary is awful. This is also an important week for Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston, so expect him to look for his favorite target on multiple occasions this Sunday. Mike Evans is still a must start.
DJ Moore
At first glance, Cam Newton’s injury looks to hurt the stellar production Moore has shown us up to this point. But, after the news that Cam will likely not play this week, I am actually encouraged to play D.J. this week. Playing with a healthy backup will be better than playing with an injured Cam. Newton looked terrible against the Bucs, but Moore still put up 9 receptions for 89 yards. If Kyle Allen is the starter this week, Moore has already played two games with him at QB. The greatest receivers will have good numbers regardless of quarterback, and Moore has a chance to prove he is elite. He’ll have a good week against Arizona.
Allen Robinson
Mitch Trubisky has not started the season off with a bang, but one theme has become apparent after the Bear’s rough start: Allen Robinson is Trubisky’s go to target. Robinson looked rusty at times last year, but it should be noted he was coming off an ACL tear, and was learning Nagy’s offensive playbook. Now, he is fully healthy and ready to have a great year. Against Washington, he should have his best game of the new season.
Marvin Jones
Jones owners are likely feeling anxious about his long term value this year, but they shouldn’t fret; Jones is still a talented receiver. Philadelphia has already allowed five wide receiver touchdowns this year, including two against a bad Washington Redskins team. Jones will find the endzone this weekend, and should be a solid flex play for fantasy teams.
Tight End (TE)
Jared Cook
Drew Brees’ injury hurts the Saints offense as a whole, but it might open up Jared Cook for more targets. Oftentimes, a quarterback without much experience will look to his tight end a lot, and Teddy Bridgewater and Taysom Hill are both young QB replacements that will split time this week against Seattle. It should also be noted that the Seahawks just allowed a young backup QB, Mason Rudolph, to throw two touchdowns to his tight end last week. If you are thin at the tight end position and have a chance to play Cook, go ahead and do it this week.
Greg Olsen
The Panthers are in a very similar situation as the Saints. Cam Newton is out with a foot injury at the moment, which means they’ll start backup Kyle Allen. Olsen looked sharp against the Buccaneers last week, and should get a lot of targets again. Carolina plays the Cardinals this week, who have been abysmal against the pass, especially against opposing tight ends. Arizona has allowed three tight end touchdowns in two weeks. Olsen is a must start this week on fantasy teams without an established star at tight end.
Defense/ Special Teams (D/ST)
Jaguars Defense/ Titans Defense
I place both of these teams together on the list because they’re in similar situations. They both play teams that have average or below average quarterbacks. They both have solid run defenders that should shut out the other team’s run heavy offense. Lastly, the game is on Thursday night, meaning both team’s offensive coordinators have had little time to prepare any schemes that would take advantage of a defensive weakness. If you have one of these defenses start them and expect a positive contribution to your fantasy team’s points.
Cowboys Defense
I’m going to make this one brief. The Cowboys defense is good. The Miami Dolphins look like they could lose to a college team this year. If there is ever a chance to play a defense against this year’s Dolphins, take it. You’ll be happy you did.
Tampa Bay Defense
It’s a small sample size, but the Buccaneers has been surprisingly good on defense this year. This week they play the Giants, an already awful team that is starting it’s rookie quarterback (Daniel Jones) for the first time. Take a chance on Tampa, and reap the benefits.
Fantasy Football Beginner Tip of the Week
(Sometimes it’s hard being a beginner in Fantasy Football. Each week I’ll try to leave a helpful tip that could help you during your fantasy season.)
The Defense/ Special Teams (D/ST) slot will not usually give your team the most points on your roster, but sometimes it can be the difference between winning and losing a game. Even the best defenses have bad games, so it is imperative to look at the defense’s opposing team each week. Here are some things to look for on the opposing team that can lead to a good week by your D/ST:
-Do they have a star player that is out with an injury? Is their backup good?
-They are starting a rookie at QB
-They have a bad offensive line, or a lot of recent injuries to their starting offensive lineman.
-Injuries or any other factor that make one position group very weak (WR, TE, RB, etc.)
-The team has had several big losses in a row
-The team has a QB who turns the ball over a lot (interceptions or fumbles)
Here are some things to look for on the opposing team that may lead to a tougher matchup than what you thought:
-An offense that scores a lot of points
-The team has won several games in a row
-The team is known for consistently beating your D/ST team
-A star player is returning from injury or another factor that kept them out for a while
-Your D/ST struggles at run defense, and the opponent is good at running the ball
-Your D/St struggles at pass defense, and the opponent is good at passing the ball
And Finally, scout your own D/ST:
Good Signs (Bad Signs would be the opposite of these points)
-The defense is healthy
-A star is returning after time away
-A star has been signed to the team
-The D/ST has done well for several weeks in a row
-After some time struggling, the team has made a change at defensive coordinator (coach in charge of the defense)
It’s possible that there are other factors I left out that you may discover for yourself! If you have the time, check NFL news from time to time, and you’ll get better at making fantasy decisions. Try it out this week, and see how you do! And remember, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me or leave a comment!
Good Signs (Bad Signs would be the opposite of these points)
-The defense is healthy
-A star is returning after time away
-A star has been signed to the team
-The D/ST has done well for several weeks in a row
-After some time struggling, the team has made a change at defensive coordinator (coach in charge of the defense)
It’s possible that there are other factors I left out that you may discover for yourself! If you have the time, check NFL news from time to time, and you’ll get better at making fantasy decisions. Try it out this week, and see how you do! And remember, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me or leave a comment!
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